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Fullname: Alexander Gray
aka: Alex Gray
Born: 11 September 1892
Died: […]
Birthplace: Bainsford
Signed: 11 May 1912; 29 Apr 1914
Left: 16 Oct 1918
Position: Outside-Left
Debut: Kilmarnock 0-2 Celtic, League, 31 Aug 1912 (scored once)
Internationals: N/A
International Caps:N/A
Biog
Alex Gray was a tricky winger who signed for the Bhoys from Stenhousemuir in May 1912. He was given praise by the great Alec McNair who said of him:
“He’s extra, a fast and tricky winger… to solve the outside-left problem“.
Got his first taste with Celtic’s first team we believe on the tours to Scandanavia, where Celtic played a Copenhagen select and also played against a Norway Olympics XI team.
The outside-left made his formal competitive debut for the Bhoys in a 2-0 league win at Kilmarnock on 31st August 1912 and in an impressive performance netted a debut goal.
Despite the bright start, he was a regular starter only for a brief period in season 1912-13, but not thereafter.
He would only be played sporadically despite having an admittedly good record in terms of goals to games. Celtic were unlucky that season and came second to Rangers just 4pts behind in the race to the league title.
Alex Gray did help Celtic to reach the Glasgow Cup final in 1912, scoring in a 4-0 victory over Clyde, but was in the team that lost the final to Rangers 3-1.
Brown & Browning were to be preferred options to Gray, and he had to put up being a deputy to the both of them.
He still managed to return to the first team side for one league game and one Glasgow Cup game in season 1914-15 which were his last, so was part of Celtic’s league title winning squad for that season.
He played in a total of 14 league & Scottish Cup games, scoring five goals along the way for the Celtic first team.
His five league goals were in: his 2-0 debut win v Kilmarnock, a 4-1 win v Airdrie, 3-2 win v Partick Thistle, 1-1 draw with Airdrie and a winning goal in a 2-1 victory over St Mirren.
During his time at Parkhead he would make loan appearances for Alloa, Falkirk and Ayr United. It meant he was to mostly miss out on the golden era as Celtic were to dominate the league title for the remainder of the decade from 1913-14.
Alex joined Kilmarnock in October 1918, never having made the grade at Celtic, and then moved about various clubs never seeming to settle down.
By trade he had an interesting background. He was a moulder, and by 1915 he was making hand grenades for the war effort.
Playing Career
APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
1912-18 | 13 | 1 | N/A | N/A | 14 |
Goals: |
5 |
0 |
– |
– |
5 |